Sri Lanka has taken a significant step to strengthen its tourism sector, with Parliament approving new regulations under the Immigration and Emigration Act to offer a free visa facility for travellers from 40 countries. The move is part of the government’s wider effort to attract more international visitors and make travel to Sri Lanka easier and more appealing.
Under the new regulations, eligible travellers will be granted a free 30-day visit visa. However, visitors will still need to complete the required travel formalities, including obtaining an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). The key change is that the visa fee itself will be waived.
The list of eligible countries includes major source markets such as the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Russia, Thailand, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and several others. Previously, Sri Lanka’s free visa facility was limited to only seven countries: China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Russia and Thailand. The new approval expands the benefit significantly, opening the door to a much wider international audience.
While the waiver is expected to result in an estimated USD 75 million loss in visa fee revenue, the government projects that it could bring in around 247,000 additional tourists. These extra arrivals are expected to generate approximately USD 317 million in tourism earnings, creating a projected net gain of USD 242 million.
For travellers, this development makes Sri Lanka an even more attractive destination, especially for short holidays, cultural journeys, beach escapes, wildlife experiences and luxury travel across the island.
The decision reflects Sri Lanka’s continued focus on rebuilding and expanding its tourism economy by reducing entry barriers and encouraging more global travellers to explore the country.
